Legal Counsel

Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions; Barrie; On-site; CAD 89,000 - 122,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Vacation & leave provisions

Job summary

Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions is seeking a permanent Legal Counsel to represent the Society in child protection matters and provide legal consultation to staff. The incumbent will handle cases from preparation through appeals under Senior Legal Counsel guidance.

Qualified lawyers must be in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario, with knowledge of relevant acts and strong litigation and mediation skills. A commitment to anti-oppression and diversity is essential.

Qualifications

• Must be a member in good standing of the Law Society of Ontario.
• Knowledge of the Child, Youth and Family Services Act.
• Experience with litigation processes and procedures.
• Mediation skills to determine best interests of the child and the Society.
• Strong interpersonal and communication abilities.
• Excellent time management and organization under tight timelines.
• Experience working with diverse communities and anti-oppression values.
• Bilingualism in French and English is a highly desired asset.

Responsibilities

• Represent the Society in all legal matters pertaining to children in need of protection.
• Prepare and present cases in Superior Court of Justice, Family Court up to appeals.
• Provide legal consultation to Agency staff on protection case work.
• Work under the general direction of Senior Legal Counsel.

Skills

Litigation knowledge

Mediation skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Time management

Anti-oppression values

Cultural competence

Team collaboration

Bilingual (French/English)

Job description

Salary Range: $89,097.00 To $121,574.00 Annually

Legal Counsel

Permanent

The Agency

We are a Child Welfare and Child & Youth Mental Health agency committed to service excellence, teamwork and participation in decision-making. We respect and value diversity and operate from an anti-oppression framework. Located in the prime recreational area of Simcoe County and the District of Muskoka, we provide the opportunity to combine a career with a lifestyle of your choice.

Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions (SMFC) strives to be a reflection of the diverse communities it serves. As a result, we encourage applications from traditionally underrepresented communities such as people living with a disability, racialized people, Indigenous peoples, people of different faiths and people from diverse gender, gender expression and 2SLGBTQ2SIA+ identities. If you are of the aforementioned identities, and feel comfortable making it known, please feel free to do so with the knowledge it will be kept confidential and used in a safe manner to inform our recruitment process towards being an equal opportunity employer. Accommodation will be provided in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code throughout the recruitment process.

The Job

This posting is for a permanent Legal Counsel position. The incumbent will have primary responsibilities of representing the Society in all legal matters pertaining to children in need of protection under the general direction of Senior Legal Counsel, including the preparation and presentation of cases in Superior Court of Justice, Family Court through to completion of appeals and provide legal consultation with Agency staff on matters relevant to protection case work. This is a non-unionized position.

Qualifications

• Must be a member in good standing of the Law Society of Ontario.
• Sound knowledge of the legislation dealing with children and families, and in particular the Child, Youth and Family Services Act.
• Sound knowledge of the processes and procedures involved in litigation.
• Strong skill set in mediation with other parties regarding what is in the best interests of the child and the Society.
• Effective interpersonal skills including the ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively with internal and external resources.
• Effective listening, verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong time management and organizational skills & ability to work effectively under the pressure of tight timelines, competing priorities and emergent issues.
• Demonstrated competence and skill in working with individuals from broad backgrounds, races, ethnicities, religions, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, etc.
• A thorough understanding of anti-oppression values and principles
• An appreciation of and ability to work with a diverse community.
• Bilingualism (French/English) is a highly desired asset.

Compensation

The salary range is $89,097 to $121,574 commensurate with experience, with a generous benefits package, vacation and leave provisions.